Abstract
The objectionable features of malaria therapy in general paresis and neurosyphilis have suggested the use of an organism that will produce a self-limited infection for which no specific therapy is needed to cure the disease induced for therapeutic purposes. In other affections of the central nervous system, such as multiple sclerosis, dementia precox, and the like, inoculations with malaria-infected blood from another syphilitic patient are not desirable.
In the treatment of the diseases mentioned, Remlinger and Bailly, 1 Nicolle and Anderson, 2 and others have used the Spirocheta hispanicum (variety marocanum) with success in the production of a form of recurrent fever. The tick, Ornithodorus marocanus, carries a type of spirochete that is pathogenic for guinea pigs. These pigs can be readily infected by means of blood obtained from the lick, and a few drops of blood from the guinea pig in turn used to inoculate the patient by instillation into the conjunctiva or the nasal fossae.
An obvious practical advantage in artificial pyrotherapy would be gained by the use of a pure culture of a suitable infecting agent such as the Spirocheta hispanicum. To this end we have attempted to cultivate the organism in artificial media.
A number of ticks (Ornitlaodorus marocanus) were obtained through the courtesy of Doctors Bailly and Remlinger of the Pasteur Institute of Tunis. Various kinds of culture media were inoculated with blood from guinea pigs that had been infected with material obtained from crushed ticks and showed abundant spirochetes in blood smears stained by the Wright, Giemsa, and Romanowsky methods. The best growth was obtained in hormone broth containing brain mash prepared as follows : 1,000 gm. of fresh beef brain (sheep or calf brain may be substituted), from which blood and membranes had been removed previously, were boiled with 1,000 cc. of veal infusion, pH 8.0
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